Holy Cross ➖ An Exceptionally Troubling Episode (1)
Victimised children: An ecumenical shame The most prolific killer of children during the Troubles was the IRA. A book, Children of the Troubles , details 186 children (under the age of 16) who were killed. 43% of them died at the hands of republican paramilitaries. 27% were killed by loyalist paramilitaries, and 26% died at the hands of the security forces. Whilst researching this piece, I discovered that paramilitaries counted statistically fewer children among their victims that the security forces. Republicans were responsible for 59% of all Troubles related deaths, loyalists for 29%, and the security forces for 10%. The supposed forces of law & order were pro-rata more enthusiastic killers of children than paramilitaries. Many of the children killed died in indiscriminate bombings. One bombing that does not fit that description is the IRA operation to kill Lord Louis Mountbatten. Described by the IRA as " … one of the discriminate ways we can bring to the atte...